In this image made from a webcam video provided by Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the CFHT telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island is covered in snow on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016. (Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope via AP/AP Photo/Tim Wright)

Matthew Foster is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu. He said he has had to explain the snow to some surprised out-of-state callers.

"Typically when we get these snow events, it does get a lot of attention," he said. When it happens, he explains to curious callers that the snow is falling. It comes down in a small, remote area. That's where mainly telescopes and scientists are located. "We do have very high mountains here."

Once they realize the heights of the mountains, snow in the island state makes a little more sense, said Ryan Lyman. He is a forecast meteorologist with the Mauna Kea Weather Center. Mauna Kea is nearly 14,000 feet above sea level.

The weather service has said snow has fallen recently on the state's Big Island.

Lyman said there has been 30 to 36 inches in recent winters.

The new snow was enough to shut down operations on Mauna Kea, Lyman said. The mountain's access road is expected to remain closed for days, he said.

The weather service doesn't keep track of what the record amounts of snowfall are on the summits. Heavy snow is often accompanied by wind. That creates drifts. They make it difficult to accurately measure snowfall, Lyman said.

Abundant snow on Mauna Loa's 13,677-foot summit could be seen at sunset Dec. 1 from parts of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. That is according to park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane.

In response to it snowing in a very remote place in Hawaii I disagree that they should shut down the roads for several days. One reason I disagree is that its Hawaii and if it snows it very rare. Another reason is that it only snowed on a mountain not on the beaches. A third reason is that if you need a telescope to see the snow cause its so far away then you don't need to close the roads down. Even though I disagree, I thinkit would be pretty cool for it to snow in Hawaii.

robertoh1-san

12/12/2016 - 11:57 a.m.

One reason it can snow in Hawaii once they realize the height of the mountains it snows in on the island. Another reason it can snow in Hawaii is because of the wind that creates drifts. The reason it can snow in Hawaii because the mountains have snow on it and can fall of making it snow.

johns3-san

12/12/2016 - 11:57 a.m.

It snowed because the hight of the mountains. Once they found out the hight of the mountains it made more sense to them. It also comes down a remote small area that normally doesn't get snow.

brittanym-san

12/12/2016 - 11:59 a.m.

In Hawaii it snowed. A weather man reported that it had snowed in Hawaii. Hawaii is a warm sunny day but when it gets close to Christmas. It starts to snow in some places it does not snow. Here in CA it does not snow.

arturov1-san

12/12/2016 - 12:00 p.m.

It can snow becuse it is a big island. The island can get snow also becuse its on the sea and at night it gets colder with might be with the air. It can also snow from all the things they are using

amayah-san

12/12/2016 - 12:01 p.m.

It can snow in Hawaii because of how tall the mountains are. If the mountain were to be as tall as the clouds it will most likely snow because of the winds in the sky. But if the mountains were to be really low there will most likely be no snow because it is not as cold and not much wind in order to create snow.

brayand-san

12/12/2016 - 12:02 p.m.

That it could snow but it dusen snow in hawaii.but if it snow that could be the reseal could be the rain . And i have never seen it and because of the Mountains

sarynea-san

12/12/2016 - 12:03 p.m.

It can snow by wind. And you can see frozen ice thing falling from the sky. And when it snows you can see cold things. And it rotates Around. It snows up to 30 to 36 inches.

marianav-san

12/12/2016 - 12:03 p.m.

Snow is really heavy when everything is white. When snow is by itself it is really light. The mountain are really high.

marcob-san

12/12/2016 - 12:04 p.m.

It can snow in hawaii because the mountains are very high and it is so cold up in the high mountains it turns to snow then starts covering the island.